ProverbHuman NatureRussian origin

Рыбак рыбака видит издалека (Rybak rybaka vidit izdaleka)

Meaning: People of the same kind recognize each other at once.

Literally: A fisherman spots a fisherman from afar

Example: “Они сразу нашли общий язык — оба заядлые шахматисты. Рыбак рыбака видит издалека.” — They hit it off at once, both keen chess players: birds of a feather flock together.

Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, and 7 more languages

  • English: Birds of a feather flock together
  • French: Qui se ressemble s'assemble (literally: Those who resemble each other gather together)
  • Spanish: Dios los cría y ellos se juntan (literally: God raises them and they come together)
  • Japanese: 類は友を呼ぶ (Rui wa tomo o yobu) (literally: Like calls to like)
  • German: Gleich und gleich gesellt sich gern (literally: Like and like gladly keep company)
  • Italian: Chi si somiglia si piglia (literally: Those who are alike take to each other)
  • Portuguese: Cada qual com o seu igual (literally: Each one with his equal)
  • Dutch: Soort zoekt soort (literally: Kind seeks kind)
  • Polish: Ciągnie swój do swego (literally: One's own draws to one's own)
  • Chinese: 物以类聚 (Wù yǐ lèi jù) (literally: Things gather by kind)
  • Korean: 가재는 게 편 (Gajaeneun ge pyeon) (literally: The crayfish sides with the crab)
  • Arabic: الطيور على أشكالها تقع (Aṭ-ṭuyūr ʿalā ashkālihā taqaʿ) (literally: Birds land with their own kind)

Origin: The rhyme of рыбака and издалека carries it: one fisherman knows another by his gear and habits before a word is spoken.

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